Government entities across the Mississippi coast have announced closures for the approaching winter storms.

Ocean Springs Mayor Connie Moran said Monday afternoon that all city government buildings will be closed Tuesday and Wednesday. The city's Emergency Operations Center will be put into service and residents with any issues arising from the storm should call the police dispatch at 228-875-2211.

In addition, Moran said residents with normal Tuesday or Wednesday garbage pickup should hold on to their garbage until Thursday morning. Those with normal Thursday pickup should hold until Friday. She said Waste Pro hopes to be back on its normal pickup schedule by Saturday evening.

"We don't want those big garbage trucks out there driving on ice," Moran said, adding that Public Works crews are preparing to work with county and MDOT officials to sand city bridges and roads which may ice over.

The U.S.
Postal Service will attempt to deliver mail as long as they can tomorrow and
possibly Wednesday. They will continue to monitor conditions but do not want to
put their drivers at risk.

According to state Trooper Jason Gazzo, all Troop K drivers license stations will be closed Tuesday. That includes offices in Harrison, Hancock, Stone, Pearl River, Jackson and George counties.

Biloxi Public Works crews are expected to begin laying a coat of sand on city bridges and roadways, MDOT plans to lay ice-melting salt on state bridges and overpasses, Biloxi police are beefing up traffic patrols, and the Biloxi Fire Department is positioning more equipment north of the bay to avoid having to cross bridges Tuesday, when freezing rain is forecast, with rain, sleet and snow predicted for Tuesday night, according to Biloxi spokesperson Vincent Creel.

Biloxi Public Schools Superintendent Arthur McMillan has announced that classes will not be held Tuesday and Wednesday and any school-related activities planned for those days will be canceled or postponed.

The city is taking its steps after a Friday night cold spell iced over bridges, overpasses and interstate ramps, prompting 43 accidents and more than 200 calls to police dispatchers in a two-hour period Friday evening.

"Typically, we might have one or two accidents in that time frame, but we had 43 accidents, which generated 200 calls from motorists," Police Chief John Miller said.

Three of the accidents required firefighters to extricate motorists from vehicles. No serious injuries were reported.

"We're going to have extra officers on the roadways to help deal with any weather-related issue," Miller said, "but we're also asking people to avoid traveling unless they absolutely have to. There's no need to be out in these dangerous conditions."

Biloxi has three bridges to the peninsula - the I-110 highrise, the Biloxi Bay Bridge and the Popp's Ferry Bridge - and dozens of smaller, typically unnoticed bridges on dozens of thoroughfares, from Back Bay Boulevard to Woolmarket.

"We're meeting this afternoon to re-check the list of areas where we will be applying sand," said Public Works Director Dain Gaillet. "We're also going to be making sure that we're protecting exposed water pipes and faucets at city facilities, and residents and business owners should be doing the same thing now at their homes or businesses."

Jackson County will close all its offices Tuesday and Wednesday, including Whispering Pines Golf Course The trash in unincorporated areas of Jackson County will not be collected tomorrow, Tuesday due to the weather. A decision for Wednesday's pick-up will be made tomorrow and depend on the weather.

The Salvation Army, located at 3217 Nathan Hale Ave. in Pascagoula, will be open to those needing shelter from the weather beginning at 4:30 p.m. today and will remain open until the weather clears. Photo identification is required.

To report downed trees and limbs, please call the Jackson County Emergency Operations Center at 228-769-3111.

Harrison County has announced the closure of all government buildings during the storm.

The city of Pascagoula will close its offices Tuesday, and a decision about Wednesday will come Tuesday afternoon. All city parks, including Beach Park Pier, will be closed tomorrow in the interest of safety. Parks and the pier will reopen when the bad weather passes and city offices reopen. There will be no garbage collection in the city on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The city of Moss Point will close its offices on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Gautier Mayor Gordon Gollott said Monday afternoon all non-essential personnel will not be required to report to work Tuesday.

"The city will basically be shut down," Gollott said, adding city crews will be monitoring bridges in the city for potential icing.

Waste Pro will be closed Tuesday, so Gautier residents with normal Tuesday garbage pickup should hold on to their garbage until Wednesday morning. The company will assess weather conditions late Tuesday afternoon and provide additional instructions for residents in regards to their garbage collection. Residents may contact Waste Pro via telephone at 228-818-5393 with any questions about their pick up route.

In George County, the county offices will be closed Tuesday and will likely be closed on Wednesday, depending on weather condisions.

The George County Solid Waste will not pickup household garbage and trash on Tuesday and Wednesday Crews will resume pickup routes on Thursday, weather permitting.

All George County employees are asked to stay in contact with their department manager. Emergency personnel and staff will remain on duty.

County supervisors are pre-positioning road equipment and sand across their beats to responding possible icing on bridges.

George County Emergency Management Director Nancy Smith has been in steady contact with NWS and MEMA for several days.

"My number one concern is roadway conditions Tuesday and Wednesday," she said. "But once this wintery mixture leaves, our residents will have several very cold nights. Remember, the 4-P's during a hard freeze- People, Pipes, Pets, and Plants."

Gulfport's city offices will be closed for non-essential personnel on Tuesday, but all essential personnel will report to work as scheduled.

The Department of Veterans Affairs Gulf Coast Veterans Health Care System has canceled all Veterans' medical appointments at its Biloxi, Mobile, Pensacola and Eglin Air Force Base medical facilities through Wednesday. The Biloxi VA emergency room will be open.

The Panama City Community Based Outpatient Clinic will be open for business Tuesday and Wednesday.